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Wednesday 26 Aug 2026
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LOCAL EDITION
Iran has agreed with Oman to establish a temporary seven-mile-wide transit route through the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo/Reuters)
Iran has agreed with Oman to establish a temporary seven-mile-wide transit route through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, whilst stressing that the arrangement does not amount to reopening the strategic waterway.
Speaking in an interview with Iranian television, Gharibabadi said the agreed route would run through Iranian territorial waters on entry, with part of the exit route also passing through Iranian waters.
"The agreed-upon width of the transit route with Oman in the Strait of Hormuz is seven miles," Gharibabadi said, describing the route as a temporary arrangement.
He added that Iran and Oman will hold further negotiations lasting between 30 and 60 days to determine a permanent route and future passage arrangements.
Waterway status
Gharibabadi emphasised that the agreement should not be interpreted as reopening the waterway.
"The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and we have complete control over it," he said, dismissing reports of active ship transit.
He added that activating the joint route with Oman would mean closing the southern passage, as technical negotiations begin on an alternative to the historical route.
Gharibabadi stated that Iran considers the strait a matter of national security, noting that a return to diplomacy requires the US to fulfil its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
"Before any action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the US must fully implement all of its violated commitments," he said.
"The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will only take place in exchange for an end to the war on all fronts, the lifting of the blockade, and a resolution of Yemen's status."
Gharibabadi also rejected assertions that US forces had cleared mines in the waterway.
"If the United States claims that the mines have been completely cleared, why doesn't a US ship pass through?" he said.
"No one except Iran knows the location of these mines."
He warned that US mine-sweeping vessels entering the area would be considered targets, calling US President Donald Trump's statements an effort to calm markets.
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Source: TRT
